Competitiveness determined by costs across entire network
The forest-based sector, which uses the most domestic production inputs of any industrial segment, operates in a network economy; this means that the other collective bargaining agreements that are concluded in Finland also affect the sector’s cost base through service and production input procurements. The competitiveness of the forest-based sector is decided precisely by the entire network’s level of costs.
In the the collective bargaining agreements the negotiation parties need to continue to seek out solutions that can lower costs as well as improve the flexibility and efficiency of operations. This should be the objective in the collective negotiations of all other industrial sectors as well because they affect the cost level of export industries through production input and service purchases.
Domestic operating environment shaped by domestic action
In addition to the forest-based sector’s own measures, other key matters, such as the availability of wood, the profitability of private forestry and energy costs, have to be focused on as well.
The forest industry covers a large portion of the payroll costs of other industries with its purchases of domestic production inputs such as wood, energy and various services. This industry uses the most domestic inputs of all branches in Finland.